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Chris Parker

GIMP web design for beginners. Learn by doing. Master UX - user experience - web design with GIMP.

Web design is all about the user experience and growing your customers bottom line. Which, will lead to more web design work than you can handle.

The goal of this course is to teach you how to create web designs, that provide a great user experience, through actually doing web design projects.

Learn how to create great user experience web designs, in Learn web design by doing.

What you'll learn in this awesome web design course, for GIMP users...

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GIMP web design for beginners. Learn by doing. Master UX - user experience - web design with GIMP.

Web design is all about the user experience and growing your customers bottom line. Which, will lead to more web design work than you can handle.

The goal of this course is to teach you how to create web designs, that provide a great user experience, through actually doing web design projects.

Learn how to create great user experience web designs, in Learn web design by doing.

What you'll learn in this awesome web design course, for GIMP users...

  • You'll learn add-on services you can up-sell your UX web design clients

  • You'll learn how to re-touch images like a pro

  • You'll learn how to stand-out among 10's of thousands of other UX web designers

  • You'll learn how to remove subjects from a background (non-destructively... just like the pros)

  • You'll learn how to transform an ordinary image into a piece of artwork, in GIMP.

  • You'll learn how to use gradients, in GIMP, for creative backgrounds

  • You'll learn the importance of keeping your layers organized

  • You'll learn tips on font selections, in GIMP.

  • You'll learn the do's and don'ts of typography

  • You'll learn why prioritizing typography, with styles, is important for making it easier to read content

  • You'll learn how to create UX web designs, in GIMP, that provide a great user experience

  • You'll learn how to help your clients grow their business by learning what it takes to design a great user experience

  • You'll learn how creating great UX web designs, that help your clients grow, and will help you grow your UX design business (and likely will end up with more work than you can handle)

  • Beginners, of GIMP, will get a crash course to get you up and running fast

  • Advanced users of GIMP can dive right in to the UX web design projects

  • You'll learn the 7 most popular types of UX web design styles

  • You'll learn what type of UX design styles to avoid (and why)

  • You'll learn tips on what type of images you should be using in your UX web designs

  • You'll learn where to download commercial free images that don't require a license or an attribution

  • You'll learn the 6 most important sections that make up UX websites

  • You'll learn how to use a Grid template to conform your UX web designs to industry standards for both desktop and mobile devices

  • You'll learn how to quickly and easily align multiple layers, in GIMP.

  • You'll learn how to evenly distribute the space between layers with one click, in GIMP.

  • You'll learn how to create a mega menu UX design and organize it for the developer

  • You'll learn how to create web design hover states so the developer knows how to code your vision

  • By the time you've completed all 7 GIMP web design projects, and the suggested assignments, you'll have mastered my top 10 keyboard shortcuts that will help you work faster.

  • Oh, and I'll also show you how to customize your keyboard shortcuts (in GIMP) to match those used in Photoshop.

  • After completing all 7 GIMP web design projects, for beginners, and the suggested assignments, you should have 7 web designs for your portfolio

GIMP Web Design Project 1

Your first GIMP web design project will consist of creating a unique, creative homepage for Nike. You’ll learn about my creative design with the web design briefing. Then, you’ll learn about the importance of picking images and how to remove subjects from the background… like a pro.

You’ll learn how to create a header, a mega menu, a Call-to-Action (CTA) and much more.

Once you’ve practiced what you learned, by re-doing my web design in GIMP, you’ll use YOUR creative vision to develop a web design for your portfolio.

GIMP Web Design Project 2

This UX web design project will have you transform an an old, outdated, real estate website into a professional design style. The new design was created for a better UX (user experience). Which will help the client grow their business by including a call-to-action that prospects will not be able to refuse.

  • You’ll learn about irresistible offers and how to create them through a CTA

  • how to create custom hero sections with custom shapes, in GIMP

  • how to use layer masks to show/hide different elements

  • pro tips for using images of people, in GIMP

  • pro tips for deciding on what type of photos to include

  • how to use gradients to make your backgrounds more dynamic, in GIMP

  • how to easily update your clients logo for a more up-to-date and modern look

  • how to increase the credibility of your clients

  • pro tips on how to pre-qualify leads through great design

  • and much more…

What you'll learn can easily be applied to any type of company and UX web design. Plus, I'll share with you one of my little secrets on adding credibility and elevating your clients standing in the community which also increases the chances more people will do business with your client.

GIMP Web Design Project 3

Our next UX web design project consists of updating another old, out-dated website and giving it a new, fresher, modern design.

Many new tips and UX web design tricks revealed in this project. Learn why I chose a sticky menu for this website, why I chose a hidden menu (via the Hamburger icon), how I created a seamless gradient background (from header to hero to the footer) for a modern flair, more pro tips on images, how to work with a third party application as part of your UX web design, and much more.

GIMP Web Design Project 4

In this UX web design project the learning continues. Starting off with a large Hero image as the backdrop of the UX design. This image alone will elevate this companies existing brand and will distinguish it as a leader in it’s area. As great as the image is it could be better. We’ll make it better by learning how to remove 2 cars from the foreground… you’ll learn how to retouch like a pro.... all in GIMP.

The next part of this UX web design, involves creating a great (UX) user experience by giving visitors exactly what they are looking for. In this case a place to rent. You’ll achieve this by designing a filter, in the Hero section, that will allow visitors to narrow down their search.

If visitors are not ready to do business through this site, they’ll be more so after scrolling down to the first section that includes 4 benefit driven services. You’ll learn how to create 4 custom icons from scratch and tips on how to sell your client on showcasing their benefits. Plus, additional tips throughout for communicating with your client on why you designed the page the way you did.

Then, I’ll give you some UX design secret tips for quickly, and easily adding multiple listings vs. redoing by scratch. This section of the GIMP web design project has a lot more pro tips. One of which is arranging, styling and choosing fonts to make it easier to read content.

We’re not done with what you’ll learn in this project. In fact, I give you 2 services you can up-sell your clients on (you’ll put in your design first since it’s so easy to do and then you'll up-sell the services.). One of which can put more money in their pocket with very little effort. Your clients will have a hard time turning down money. The hard part is deciding how much to charge. Which is entirely up to you.

GIMP Web Design Project 5

Your next UX web design project consists of taking an old, out-dated, government text based design and creating a more image based web design.

Why the switch? The “government” is trying to sell their popular tourist destination with a text based style. However, this "N.Y. State Park" would be better described with photos. After all, an “image is worth a thousand words”.

  • You’ll start off with a simple Header and Hero section.

  • Then, you’ll learn more about typography choices and styling, in GIMP.

  • How the right choice of images is important and the wrong choice can be a disaster.

  • Learn how to create a pop-up Hover state, in GIMP

  • and much more

GIMP Web Design Project 6

Oh boy. You’re in for a treat.

This is my favorite UX web design project for GIMP users. You’ll learn something you didn’t know was possible… how to find out what font was used from a (flattened) JPG file. Yep, I’ll show you where to upload your file and a computer will crunch it’s database of 100,000+ fonts and tell you which one was used.

So far, most of our UX web design projects have had a modern, clean UX web design style applied to them. Not this time. We’re going all out on transforming a plain, boring site with a bold, fun retro web design style. Oh, and we are still focusing on an awesome (UX) user experience with the overall web design.

You’ll start off by creating a retro slider for the Hero section. Then you’ll design an e-commerce like body section featuring old-movie posters. Plus, I've added more pro UX (user experience) web design tips and useful tips for using GIMP.

GIMP Web Design Project 7

By now, you’ve learned just about all my UX web design tips. Don’t despair. I have a few more pro tips and GIMP tricks to share with you in this final UX web design project.

Including, how to transform an ordinary, boring, plain, photo into a work-of-art; a Watercolor (in GIMP). No worries. No need to buy a canvas, brushes or watercolor paint. I’ll show you how to do it all in GIMP.

Once you’ve completed all

Plus, if you applied my suggestions and did the 7 web design assignments, you’ll have 7 UX web designs developed from YOUR creative vision to use in your portfolio. All of which, can be submitted to our Q&A section for feedback or just to show off your new UX web design skills.

Learn GIMP web design by doing. Create 7 GIMP web design projects from scratch + 7 GIMP web design assignments

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Create web designs that provide a great ui ux (user experience)
  • Help your clients grow their business by learning what it takes to design a great user experience
  • Learn how creating great web designs, that help your clients grow, will help you grow your design business
  • You'll learn the 7 most popular types of web design styles
  • You'll learn what type of design styles to avoid (and why)
  • You'll learn add-on services you can up-sell your web design clients
  • You'll learn how to re-touch images like a pro
  • You'll learn how to stand-out among 10's of thousands of other web designers
  • You'll learn how to remove subjects from a background (non-destructively... just like the pros)
  • You'll learn how to transform an ordinary image into a piece of artwork
  • You'll learn how to use gradients for creative backgrounds
  • You'll learn and master layers and layer masks
  • You'll learn the importance of keeping your layers organized
  • You'll learn tips on font selections
  • You'll learn the do's and don'ts of typography
  • You'll learn why prioritizing typography, with styles, is important for making it easier to read content
  • You'll learn tips on what type of images you should be using in your web designs
  • You'll learn where to download commercial free images that don't require a license or an attribution
  • You'll learn how to use a grid template to conform your web designs to industry standards for both desktop and mobile devices
  • You'll learn how to quickly and easily align multiple layers
  • You'll learn how to evenly distribute the space between layers with one click
  • You'll learn how to create a mega menu design and organize it for the developer
  • You'll learn how to design hover states so the developer knows how to code your vision
  • By the time you've completed all 7 web design projects, and the suggested assignments, you'll have mastered my top 10 keyboard shortcuts
  • After completing all 7 web design projects and the suggested assignments, you should have 7 web designs for your portfolio
  • Show more
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Syllabus

How To Get The Most From This Course
How To Get the Most Out Of This Class
What To Expect From This Course
How To Install GIMP
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a crash course for beginners to get them up and running with GIMP quickly, while advanced users can dive straight into the UX web design projects
Focuses on practical application through seven web design projects, allowing learners to build a portfolio and gain hands-on experience with GIMP
Covers essential web design elements like headers, mega menus, calls-to-action, and footers, providing a comprehensive understanding of website structure
Explores various web design styles, including retro and modern designs, exposing learners to different aesthetic approaches and design principles
Teaches how to retouch images, remove subjects from backgrounds, and transform ordinary images into artwork, which are valuable skills for web designers
Requires learners to install GIMP, which may pose a barrier for those unfamiliar with software installation or who have limited access to compatible devices

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Reviews summary

Gimp web design with projects

According to students, this course offers a practical, project-based approach to learning web design principles using GIMP. Many appreciate the opportunity to build a portfolio through the 7 included projects. Learners find the step-by-step instructions and the focus on UX (User Experience) beneficial. While generally well-received, some reviewers note that using GIMP can be challenging compared to industry-standard tools, and a few find the pace or explanations occasionally unclear.
Focuses on web design using GIMP image editor.
"It's great to find a web design course specifically for GIMP users."
"Learning web design through GIMP is interesting, though it feels different than using Photoshop."
"As a GIMP user, this course is exactly what I needed to apply my skills to web design."
Emphasizes User Experience principles.
"I appreciate the focus on UX and not just visual design."
"Learning how design impacts user experience was very valuable."
"The course goes beyond just using the tool and touches on design thinking."
Suitable for those new to GIMP or web design.
"As a beginner to GIMP, the initial crash course helped me get started."
"The instructor explains things clearly for someone new to design tools."
"I had no prior web design experience, and this course was easy to follow."
Create design examples for a portfolio.
"Getting 7 projects to add to my portfolio was a major plus for me."
"The assignments help you create your own versions for a stronger portfolio."
"This course provides tangible results you can showcase to potential clients."
Practical approach through hands-on projects.
"I love learning by doing. The projects in this course are a great way to apply what you learn."
"Completing the 7 projects really helped solidify the concepts and gave me items for my portfolio."
"The hands-on projects make this course very practical and engaging."
Some parts move too fast or lack detail.
"Sometimes the instructor moves a bit fast, requiring rewinding."
"Some explanations could be more detailed, especially for complex steps."
"I occasionally found myself confused by certain steps."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 7 GIMP Web Design Projects - Learn GIMP Web Design By Doing with these activities:
Practice Image Retouching
Sharpen your image retouching skills to enhance the visual appeal of your web designs.
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on retouching techniques in GIMP.
  • Practice removing blemishes and imperfections from sample images.
  • Experiment with color correction and sharpening tools.
Create a GIMP Resource Library
Build a collection of useful GIMP resources to streamline your web design workflow.
Show steps
  • Gather GIMP plugins, scripts, and brushes relevant to web design.
  • Organize the resources into a well-structured library.
  • Document each resource with a brief description and usage instructions.
Read 'Don't Make Me Think' by Steve Krug
Understand the principles of user-centered design to create more effective and engaging web experiences.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Apply the principles to your own web design projects.
  • Reflect on how the book has changed your approach to web design.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Recreate Web Design Elements
Improve your GIMP skills by recreating common web design elements from scratch.
Show steps
  • Choose a website with interesting design elements.
  • Identify specific elements like buttons, headers, or icons.
  • Recreate those elements in GIMP, paying attention to detail.
Write a Blog Post on Web Design Trends
Research and share your knowledge of current web design trends to solidify your understanding.
Show steps
  • Research current web design trends and gather examples.
  • Write a blog post summarizing the trends and their impact on UX.
  • Include visuals created in GIMP to illustrate your points.
  • Publish your blog post on a platform like Medium or your own website.
Redesign a Website for a Local Business
Apply your GIMP web design skills to a real-world project and build your portfolio.
Show steps
  • Identify a local business with a poorly designed website.
  • Analyze the existing website and identify areas for improvement.
  • Create a new web design in GIMP based on UX principles.
  • Present your redesign to the business owner for feedback.
Read 'Refactoring UI' by Adam Wathan and Steve Schoger
Learn practical UI design tips to enhance the visual appeal and usability of your web designs.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key design principles.
  • Apply the principles to your GIMP web design projects.
  • Experiment with different design techniques to see what works best.

Career center

Learners who complete 7 GIMP Web Design Projects - Learn GIMP Web Design By Doing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Designer
The primary role of a Web Designer is to create visually appealing and functional websites. Web designers craft the overall look and feel of a site, often using design software to bring their ideas to life. This course emphasizes practical web design projects using GIMP and teaches how to create designs with a focus on user experience. By working through seven GIMP web design projects, you can learn essential skills like retouching images, selecting fonts, and creating effective layouts. The course content on web design styles, grid systems, and image selection may be especially helpful for someone looking to excel as a Web Designer.
User Interface Designer
A User Interface Designer specializes in the visual elements of a website or application, focusing on how users interact with the design. User interface designers focus on individual touchpoints that the user encounters. This course, centered around GIMP web design projects, provides hands-on experience in crafting visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. By learning how to create mega menus, design hover states, and align elements effectively, you would develop skills directly applicable to user interface design. The course emphasis on user experience and the inclusion of seven design projects may be particularly beneficial for aspiring User Interface Designers.
User Experience Designer
A User Experience Designer focuses on making websites and applications easy to use and enjoyable. User experience drives the design of websites, focusing on the complete end-to-end journey. This course, centered on GIMP web design projects, offers direct practical experience in creating user-centric designs, specifically teaching how to create great user experiences. By learning how to prioritize typography, select appropriate images, and design intuitive navigation, the course helps build a portfolio of UX web designs. The course's emphasis on understanding user needs and translating them into effective design solutions may be particularly relevant to someone who wants to become a User Experience Designer.
Graphic designer
As a Graphic Designer, you would create visual concepts that communicate ideas and messages. Graphic Designers produce designs for a variety of media, including websites, logos, and marketing materials. While this course focuses on web design, it uses GIMP to teach core design principles applicable to graphic design. You'll learn skills in image retouching, typography, and layout design, all of which are key to success as a Graphic Designer. The assignments in the course, which encourage developing your own creative vision, may be especially valuable for building a design portfolio.
Digital Artist
Digital Artists create artwork using digital tools and software. They may work on illustrations, animations, or visual effects for various media. While this course focuses on web design, it utilizes GIMP, a powerful image editing software, to teach core artistic skills. You'll learn how to retouch images, transform ordinary photos into artwork, and use gradients for creative backgrounds, all of which are valuable for Digital Artists. The course's practical projects and emphasis on visual elements may be particularly helpful for developing artistic skills.
Front-End Developer
Front End Developers implement the visual elements and user interactions of a website. They work with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to bring designs to life. While this course focuses on the design aspect using GIMP, it introduces concepts that are valuable for front end development. Understanding design principles, user experience, and layout techniques can improve your ability to translate designs into functional code. Learning how to create well-organized designs and understanding the importance of design elements like hover states and mega menus may be useful for a Front End Developer.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia Artists create animations, visual effects, and other visual content for various media, including websites, games, and films. While this course centers on web design using GIMP, it may still foster skills in image manipulation, graphic design, and visual communication. Learning how to retouch images, transform photos into artwork, and create visually appealing layouts are relevant to multimedia art. Concepts from the course on typography and the use of color may further enhance creative capabilities. This role often calls for an advanced degree.
Art Director
Art Directors are responsible for the visual style and images in various projects, including websites, advertising campaigns, and film productions. While this course centers on web design using GIMP, the principles of visual design, image retouching, and typography are broadly applicable. Learning to transform ordinary images into artwork, understanding the do's and don'ts of typography, and mastering layer organization may build a foundation for success as an Art Director. This role often requires an advanced degree.
Web Content Strategist
Web Content Strategists plan, develop, and manage website content to achieve specific goals. They ensure that content is user-friendly, informative, and aligned with the overall business strategy. Though this course primarily focuses on the visual design aspects of websites using GIMP, it touches on key elements important to content strategists. The emphasis on user experience and understanding how design impacts user engagement may be helpful. The course's exploration of different web design styles may broaden the understanding of content presentation and its impact.
Creative Director
Creative Directors oversee the creative output of a company or agency, guiding the visual style and branding efforts. This role often requires an advanced degree. While this course focuses on practical web design projects using GIMP, it may help develop an understanding of current design trends, user experience principles, and visual communication techniques. The course’s projects offer a way to refine creative skills. The emphasis on diverse web design styles may broaden your creative palette, which may be useful for a Creative Director.
Digital Marketing Specialist
A Digital Marketing Specialist develops and implements marketing campaigns across various online channels. While this course emphasizes web design principles using GIMP, understanding the visual aspects of websites can improve your ability to create effective marketing campaigns. The course's focus on user experience and design may enhance messaging and improve conversion rates. Familiarity with web design trends and techniques may also help Digital Marketing Specialists collaborate effectively with designers and developers.
Web Developer
Web Developers build and maintain websites. They utilize programming languages to create functional and interactive web experiences. While this course focuses on the design aspect using GIMP, understanding the principles of user interface and user experience design can improve a Web Developer's ability to create effective websites. By gaining insights into design considerations, such as layout, typography, and image selection, you can collaborate more effectively with designers and ensure that the final product meets user needs. This course may be a helpful supplement to technical development skills.
Marketing Coordinator
Marketing Coordinators support marketing teams by assisting with various tasks such as campaign development, content creation, and social media management. While this course focuses on web design principles using GIMP, basic understanding of website visuals can be an advantage. The knowledge of how to work with images and design layouts may be helpful when a Marketing Coordinator is responsible for managing digital assets. An understanding of typography and visual hierarchy may also improve the quality and impact of marketing materials.
Brand Manager
Brand Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's brand, including visual identity, marketing, and communication. While this course primarily focuses on web design using GIMP, understanding the visual elements of a website and how they contribute to brand perception can be valuable. The course's focus on user experience and creating visually appealing interfaces may help Brand Managers make informed decisions about their online presence. Concepts around different design styles may also assist in maintaining a consistent and effective brand image.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designers create learning materials and experiences for various platforms. While this course primarily focuses on web design using GIMP, understanding the principles of user interface and user experience design can enhance one's ability to create engaging and effective online learning modules. The course's focus on visual communication, layout, and organization may be particularly valuable. An Instructional Designer can apply these principles to create visually appealing and user-friendly learning interfaces, which may improve learner engagement and outcomes.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in 7 GIMP Web Design Projects - Learn GIMP Web Design By Doing.
Classic in the field of web usability. It provides practical advice on how to design websites that are easy to use and understand. It emphasizes the importance of intuitive navigation and clear communication, which are essential for creating a positive user experience. This book is highly recommended for anyone involved in web design.

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